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Man Utd Europa hopes boosted by Rooney return

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has returned to training as his side prepare for their Europa League quarter-final with Anderlecht on Thursday.

The striker missed the last two Premier League games against Everton and Sunderland with an ankle problem but joined his team-mates at Carrington on Wednesday.

David De Gea, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young also trained, with Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata the only absentees.

De Gea, who sat out Sunday’s 3-0 win over Sunderland because of a hip problem, is likely to return against Chelsea at the weekend, with Jose Mourinho set to give Sergio Romero another run-out in Belgium.

Young and Valencia also missed the Sunderland match with slight niggles but come into contention for the first leg of the quarter-final.

United were due to fly to Belgium after training on Wednesday and go into the tie as favourites to reach the last four of the only major European competition they are yet to win.

The Red Devils have won the three previous ties between the sides, most recently in the Champions League in 2000/01, while their record win was a 10-0 victory against Anderlecht in 1956.